nt of some independent tribunal. Nations are just like people.
They see things solely from their own point of view. Do you know, Mr.
Romayne, there is no subject upon which I feel so keenly as upon the
subject of war. I just loathe and hate and dread the thought of war.
I think perhaps I inherit this. My mother, you know, belongs to the
Friends, and she sees so clearly the wickedness and the folly of war.
And don't you think that all the world is seeing this more clearly
to-day than ever before?"

There was nothing new in this argument or in this position to Mr.
Romayne, but somehow, as he looked at the girl's eager, enthusiastic
face, and heard her passionate denunciation of war, he found it
difficult to defend the justice of war under any circumstances whatever.

"I entirely agree with you, Miss Gwynne, that war is utterly horrible,
that it is silly, that it is wicked. I would rather not discuss it with
you, but I can't help feeling that there are circumstances that make it
necessary and right for men to fight."

"You don't wish to discuss this with me?" said Kathleen. "I am sorry,
for I have always wished to hear a soldier who is also"--the girl
hesitated for a moment--"a gentleman and a Christian--"

"Thank you, Miss Gwynne," said Romayne, with quiet earnestness.

"Discuss the reasons why war is ever necessary."

"It is a very big subject," said Mr. Romayne, "and some day I should
like to give you my point of view. There are multitudes of people in
Britain to-day, Miss Gwynne, who would agree with you. Lots of books
have been written on both sides. I have listened to hours and hours of
discussion, so that you can easily see that there is much to be said on
both sides. I always come back, however, to the point that among nations
of similar ethical standards and who are equally anxious to preserve the
peace of the world, arbitration as a method of settling disputes ought
to be perfectly simple and easy. It is only when you have to deal with
nations whose standards of ethics are widely dissimilar or who are
possessed with another ambition than that of preserving the peace of the
world that you get into difficulty."

"I see your point," replied Kathleen, "but I also see that just there
you allow for all sorts of prejudice to enter and for the indulgence in
unfair argument and special pleading. But there, we are finished," she
said, "and you do not wish to discuss this just now."

"Some time, Miss Gwynne, we shal